"What a long strange trip it's been" The Grateful Dead sang on their classic anthem "Truckin". Indeed, The Grateful Dead at the time were the longest known running band in the history of the world. They had gone from Psychedelic Blues band to Roots musicians. Though they had their problems, they had bright plans for the future, as did their fans. Until, August 9th, 1995, when anticipation for the future was pointless. The band's leader, Jerry Garcia, who had been loved by fans and musicians for years had died. He had past away from a heart attack after trying to recover from a drug addiction. For Jerry thought that his new interest took the place of his long addiction. SCUBA diving was his passion. He believed that if it had existed back in the Haight Ashbury days, drugs would have been on no use. His fascination of underwater sea creatures and plants was high, he managed to dive many times. But getting rid of his pass addiction was hard. He had tried various time to recover, but he led back to a shot of heroin into the forearm. Though he proceeded to try, he would die after one of his attempts. His loss brought an end to The Grateful Dead, and to lives of many followers. An era had ended.
However, six years before, Garcia and The Grateful Dead would release their last studio album. Of course they did not predict it would be their last, but need less to say it was. The album would be named Built to Last. It would feature there least known lineup, with their least appreciated keyboardist. The keyboardist Brent Mydland who had been with the band since 1979 would put in his most effort, and would die short after. In July of 1990, the German native would come home from a large Grateful Dead summer tour and soon die from a drug overdose. He would add to the list of dead Grateful Dead musicians. All keyboardists until Garcia. The list would feature Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Keith Godchaux, and finally Brent Mydland. The Dead did have two other keyboardists that did not pass away. However, they were not exactly official member, they just sat in a whole mess of times. Bruce Hornsby, and Tom Constanten would be the two.
Built to Last is an emotional, and simple album. It's compositions did not compare in any ways to previous releases like Wake of the Flood or the very unique Blues for Allah. But it was filled with hard work, and much of what many of the other Grateful Dead albums lacks, heart (in some ways). The album is surely underrated. Allmusic.com only gave it a single star, while giving the terrible Terrapin Station two stars. It contains two great pieces, and various other tracks that may not wow some, but aren't really bad. The guitar work is good. It is powerful, but not over the top, which is how it should be. The drumming is also not very over the top. It is unique (Two drummers...), but not as adventurous as many Workingman's Dead tracks, like the thumping "Easy Wind". Where Hart's work on various floor toms, bounces off of Kreutzmann's rapid snare rolls. The only downside if you ask me comes from Brent. Who had always featured this problem if you ask me. The tones he picks for the songs he writes are occasionally cheesy. But even with all the opportunities he is given to mess up on this studio album exit, he does quite well. His input on the album is greater than any other members. And for a member who was always sad to have a problem with being "shy", and not feeling like he is apart of The Grateful Dead, that is saying something.
The album is frequently compared to The Grateful Dead's previous studio released In the Dark. In the Dark was said by many to bring the Grateful Dead back to a state where they make good studio albums. The album was absolutely great, and it featured many great songs. It would be hard for any band to formulate a follow up to that album. Unfortunately, Built to Last doesn't compare well to In the Dark. Therefore many think less of this album, being that the anticipation of it was so high, because In the Dark was fabulous. For anyone who happens to pick up this album, let alone find it (It has not been singularly reissued along with each other studio album and various live albums from 1975 until 1989 in a good amount of time. It can be picked up in their latest box set though.), base it upon its quality, unlike many fools I have ran into.
The album starts off with an upbeat love number. "Foolish Heart" is one of the highlights in my opinion. Its original appeal to me was quite bad. It contains an almost cheesy concept and main line. Though, it is not that cheesy, it was that way to me at the time. The lyrics to the tune are very interesting. Filled with many odd writing techniques that writer Robert Hunter is known for, and containing many sub-concepts. The closest genre you could label it would be "Reggae - Rock". The Grateful Dead since Blues for Allah, the band had grew a fascination with the signature music of one of their largest fan bases, which was lied in the Caribbean island of Jamaica. The drumming is basic, leaving room for many catchy interludes by Jerry. Brent had picked an almost perfect keyboard tone for this number. The bouncy sound adds to the mellow and positive feel very nicely. Garcia takes the lead vocals, and sings this simple Reggae influenced song with a great and happy attitude. There are very few noticeable flaws on this nonchalant intro. And it is not surprisingly better live.
Following a perfect opener comes the first piece from Brent Mydland, "Just a Little Light". It is a Grateful Dead song that has fallen to the stereotypical 80's "tone". You know what I'm talking about. The Pop music with massive amounts of cheesy keyboard tones and effects that was made in the 1980's. This song slightly falls to that terrible description. Brent's vocals are the most powerful The Grateful Dead has had (with maybe the exception of Pigpen), and he usually sounds quite good. He choose a terrible keyboard lick (more not) to lead the song. And the "80's tone" description many is pointed directly at that exact keyboard tone. Jerry's tone however sounds great. His playing occasionally sneaks up for some lead lines. Bob's playing is also kind of sneaky. His chord progression and main riffs at one point are hard to hear, but at the next are clear as day. The main rhythm section holds their own also. Phil's lines could not be anymore precise and perfect. Billy and Mickey's beats are simple once again, but there is nothing to complain about. Nothing special is heard on this second track. It does not sound like The Grateful Dead.
Next up is a song, that The Dead would name the album off of. So, you would think it is a pretty good song. Well, it isn't that bad at all. When an album gets a terrible reputation like this, you always expect the next song to be bad. Luckily, "Built to Last" is a good quality song. Jerry Garcia takes lead vocals and once again performs the perfect amount of emotion needed to give the song an extra plus. The Dead have their rhythm guitar imitate the timing of the sung lyrics. Which they were not new to. They had been performing that technique since as far back as their upbeat classic, and one of my favorite songs, "Sugar Magnolia". The beat to the song is fantastic. It matches up with the rhythm guitar and bass perfectly. So, the main point is the rhythm and the vocals. Which is why lead lines are rather rarely heard by both Mydland and Garcia. It is songs like these that help prove many critics wrong.
"Blow Away" will fill in the third slot. The song is musically very interesting. Filled with oddities, and many new methods used by The Grateful Dead. Garcia uses a much more buzz like tone, and plays many licks, and interludes that sound like they would be coming from the late Duane Allman. Who actually performed with The Grateful Dead on many occasions. Brent both sung and wrote this track. He did quite a good job, the playing is superb, and there is truly nothing wrong with it. Phil's bass lines stick out more so than any of the other previous tracks. The percussion work also sticks out a good amount. Brent really did a fantastic job on this tune, and the rest of The Grateful Dead also did some fantastic work.
A Weir song! This first song on the album written by Bob Weir has a very annoying feel to it. It is filled up with mystique and an almost Psychedelic sound. Percussion and keyboard effects bring up that classification. The lyrics written by Bob Weir of course, but lacked his writing partner John Barlow. Bob picked up John Perry Barlow as a writing partner during his first solo effort Ace. Like Garcia and Hunter, they had been friends since childhood. Each supposably suffered a tough childhood. Weir was adopted and in and out of a correctional facility. But that is irrelevant. The tune Weir put together right here, is musically unique (at least in this album), but is overall quite annoying and not enjoyable to listen to.
The Grateful Dead come back with a quirky Country number. "We Can Run" is Brent Mydland's third written song featured on Built to Last. Its melodies sound similar to The Grateful Dead's epic "Black Muddy River" off of their previous released In the Dark. The songs lead guitar lines present its main Country input. The tone is twangy and sounds very good, and fantastic Country wise. Brent's writing is the best yet. The lyrics are actually nice to listen to, and are rather inspirational. His songs always seem like they'd be more fitting on a Bruce Springsteen album than a Grateful Dead album. But none the less, a large selection of them are great. Very good song.
A for sure highlight is up next. "Standing on the Moon" is a slow more epic piece. Jerry sings this passionate Grateful Dead classic with much emotion, and leads a small amount of the song with his lead guitar lines. The beat mainly leads the song, and is very powerful. It is perfectly backed with Phil Lesh's bass lines. Phil Lesh was said to be the first lead bass player. He is commonly said to be very original, because he was never a fan of bass players. When Jerry Garcia asked Phil to join the pre Grateful Dead band, The Warlocks, he only played classical piano and violin. However, Phil had a degree in music and new a large amount about music and theory in general. Which explains is style perfectly. The lyrics to "Standing on the Moon" reflect the words problems that can only be completely seen from high above. They are nicely deep and very enjoyable.
The next song is very overrated in my opinion. It is Bob Weir and John Barlow's "Picasso Moon". Weir starts the song off with a good riff, and enters his voice with an interesting voice. The song fits a generic Rock 'n' Roll formulated song. Few chords, verse, chorus, verse, solo, chorus, ect, you know. Musically it is okay, and overall I don't even find the song that bad. It is just that many consider this song a signature Dead song. Definitely not in my opinion.
"I Will take you Home" closes Built to Last. It is the last track on the last album by The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia and Brent Mydland :(. The vibe and music give it a perfect opening to be cheesy, but it changes direction and becomes extremely beautiful. Brent's piano leads the song in a lovely manner. The lyrics are some of the best heard by Brent, and only do good for The Grateful Dead. It features no guitar, no bass, and no drumming. Just Brent, percussion, and some lightly played violin. Here is a fabulous piece of work. It's quite sad knowing how much this album and song ended . :upset:
Final Rating: 3.3/5
Band
Jerry Garcia - Lead Guitar
Bob Weir - Rhythm Guitar
Phil Lesh - Bass
Mickey Hart - Drums
Billy Kreutzmann - Drums
Brent Mydland - Keyboard
